A Welcoming Place to Start: Why I Created Lisa Jo’s Spot

Last June, I attended STIMULATE the Show, and it was a refreshing break from the ongoing hustle and grind of private practice.

STIMULATE is a business-to-business sexual wellness show where vendors share their products and education is a big part of the experience. I arrived excited, hopeful, and curious. I had no idea how much research, thoughtfulness, and dedication went into developing things like private STI testing, different types of lubricant, and tools designed for sexual exploration.

When I walked in, the room was full of energy and openness.

At each table, I met people who seemed to genuinely care about what they were creating. Even more surprising, I felt like I could be completely real with them. I cursed. I shared the painful struggles many of my clients face. And they listened.

There were real connections, but there was also laughter. We could talk openly about sex, and yes, sex can be funny. Even among therapists, those conversations aren’t always easy.

In that community, I felt accepted.

They got me.

For years as a sex therapist, I have heard the shame of not being able to maintain an erection and the fear of not satisfying a partner. I have listened to people who avoid intimacy because they dislike their bodies or feel pressure to have an orgasm.

So often, beneath those different experiences is the same uncertainty: “Where do I even begin?”

In my work, I have seen how compassion and education can help people move from self-blame toward understanding.

That is what made STIMULATE so meaningful to me. The conversations weren’t just about products. They were about bodies, pleasure, communication, and the things so many of us were never taught.

Many people come into my office wanting a better sex life but carrying a deep disappointment in themselves. When you grow up in a family or culture where sex is rarely discussed, it can be difficult to ask questions without feeling embarrassed. Narrow ideas about what a beautiful or “functional” body should look like can make that even harder.

And the misinformation can follow us for years.

A family member once told me that people who visit sex shops are “perverts.” That comment has stayed with me because it captures how easily curiosity can be turned into something shameful.

There is also an assumption that using sexual wellness products means something is wrong, or that a product replaces intimacy and connection.

But what if we approached them differently?

What if a thoughtfully chosen tool could make exploration feel less intimidating? What if education helped someone understand their options and ask better questions? What if curiosity didn’t have to mean there was anything wrong with you?

I think about the man who feels anxious about maintaining an erection. The woman who feels disconnected from her desire. The transgender person exploring what feels comfortable and pleasurable in their body.

I also think about people who seem confident in every other part of their lives but feel lost when it comes to sex.

Different experiences. A shared wish for somewhere welcoming to begin.

That is why I created Lisa Jo’s Spot.

When I explored other online sexual wellness stores, many felt overwhelming to me. Loud. Busy. Confusing. Not the experience I wanted for someone taking a vulnerable first step.

I wanted to create something different.

A place to look and learn without shame or pressure. A place that acknowledges how personal exploration can feel, especially when culture, trauma, misinformation, or years of silence have shaped our relationship with sex.

Lisa Jo’s Spot brings together thoughtful education and tools for curious adults. Not because everyone needs a product, but because people deserve information and choices without being made to feel broken.

The store is still evolving. But I keep coming back to what I felt at STIMULATE: the warm welcomes, the honest conversations, the laughter, and the freedom to ask questions.

That is the spirit I want to bring here.

You don’t have to know all the right words. You don’t have to feel confident. And you don’t have to figure everything out at once.

If you’re curious but unsure where to begin, you’re welcome here. Explore our guides, resources, and thoughtfully chosen tools, at your own pace and without pressure.